The Sports Xchange Martin will sub for Denny Hamlin only at Martinsville By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Distributed by The Sports Xchange Not so fast, says Michael Waltrip Racing. A day after Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Mark Martin would replace Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry "while Hamlin recovers from an L1 compression fracture," MWR issued a release saying that Martin would return to Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota after subbing for...

MARTINSVILLE , Va. -- Kurt Busch got by Jimmie Johnson with 11 laps remaining at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday and was able to hold off Johnson in the closing laps to win the STP 500 Sprint Cup race. "I didn't know if we'd be able to do it," Busch said. "The No. 48 car (Johnson) is king here -- him or the 24 ( Jeff Gordon ). The old theory is, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. " Johnson had to settle for second. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished third, Joey...

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expected to race this weekend at Martinsville, but he is on a tenuous lifeline. He might be one big boom from having to shut it down for the rest of the season because of multiple concussions. Earnhardt has been approved to race after receiving clearance from neurosurgeon Jerry Petty following an evaluation at Petty's Charlotte office. That was the second step of the process, which started with a 123-lap test Monday at Gresham Motorsports Park in...

Excluding Rick Pitino, Jimmie Johnson just may be the King of the World right now. He won his eighth race at Martinsville on Sunday, holding off Clint Bowyer and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. He has a six-point lead over defending champion Brad Keselowski in the Sprint Cup standings. And he just announced on his Facebook page Tuesday morning that he and his wife Chandra are expecting another child. "We are happy to share news that we're having another baby in September.

M.Beth Forst, 51, of Martinsville, Ind., died Wednesday at Morgan County Hospital in Martinsville. Mrs. Forst was director of office services for the F.C. Tucker Realty Co. of Indianapolis, a position she held for 14 years. She was a member of the American Businesswomen's Association and the Executive Women's International Association. Survivors include her husband, Thomas H., four daughters, JoAnn Brinkman, Kay Lorraine Miller, Christian Wallace and Robin Wallace; four stepdaughters, Theresa Piekarski, Mary...

The Sports Xchange Cool-Down Lap: Danica Patrick's run at Martinsville is a real head-turner By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Distributed by The Sports Xchange By Jove, I think she's got it. You could almost hear Professor Henry Higgins' exclamation from "My Fair Lady" echoing around the grandstands at Martinsville Speedway, as Danica Patrick fought for position. To those watching Sunday's STP Gas Booster 500, it was abundantly...

A man arrested in May after his daughter told police she saw him fatally stab a black encyclopedia saleswoman with a screwdriver in 1968 died Saturday. Kenneth Richmond, 70, died from bladder cancer at Larue D. Carter Memorial Hospital, defense attorney Steve Litz said. He was charged with what prosecutors said was the racially motivated murder in Martinsville of 21-year-old Carol Marie Jenkins. The crime had long haunted the nearly all-white Martinsville, a city of...

The Sports Xchange By Bob Moore, The Sports Xchange Johnson wins at Martinsville for eighth time MARTINSVILLE, va. -- As expected, Jimmie Johnson won Sunday's STP Gas Booster 500 at Martinsville Speedway. But it was not as easy as everyone expected. During the middle of the race, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch were faster than Johnson. And with 75 laps to go, it was obvious that Jeff Gordon had the fastest car and was running down Johnson. But as crew chief Chad Knaus...

Part 2 : continues.... six events. "We've had fast cars this year, but what we need is to start the race fast and make sure that we're comfortable with our setup after the final practice," said Smith. "Finding the right setup during the race is too late sometimes. " 43 ARIC ALMIROLA, Ford Team: Richard Petty Motorsports WHERE HE STANDS: 19th, 45 points out of the top 10. TEXAS RECORD: His best finish in two starts is 21st. LOOKING AHEAD: Although...

The Sports Xchange By Bob Moore, The Sports Xchange Johnson continues domination, wins eighth time at Martinsville MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- As expected, Jimmie Johnson won Sunday's STP Gas Booster 500 at Martinsville Speedway. But it was not as easy as everyone had predicted. During the middle portions of the race, Matt Kenseth and Kyle Busch were faster than Johnson. And with 75 laps to go, it was obvious that Jeff Gordon had the fastest car and was running...

Excluding Rick Pitino, Jimmie Johnson just may be the King of the World right now. He won his eighth race at Martinsville on Sunday, holding off Clint Bowyer and Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jeff Gordon. He has a six-point lead over defending champion Brad Keselowski in the Sprint Cup standings. And he just announced on his Facebook page Tuesday morning that he and his wife Chandra are expecting another child. "We are happy to share news that we're having another baby in September.

The Sports Xchange Martin will sub for Denny Hamlin only at Martinsville By Reid Spencer, NASCAR Wire Service Distributed by The Sports Xchange Not so fast, says Michael Waltrip Racing. A day after Joe Gibbs Racing announced that Mark Martin would replace Denny Hamlin in the No. 11 FedEx Toyota Camry "while Hamlin recovers from an L1 compression fracture," MWR issued a release saying that Martin would return to Waltrip's No. 55 Toyota after subbing for...

Ryan Wolf scored 38 points as top-ranked, unbeaten Martinsville set up a showdown against defending Indiana state champion Bedford North Lawrence with Friday night's 73-60 victory over Center Grove. The Artesians (18-0) trailed early but took a 48-40 lead going into the fourth quarter and Center Grove never came closer than that the rest of the way. Bob Denton added 20 points for Martinsville, while Center Grove was led by Kenton Brown and Chris Sutton with 13 points apiece.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. is expected to race this weekend at Martinsville, but he is on a tenuous lifeline. He might be one big boom from having to shut it down for the rest of the season because of multiple concussions. Earnhardt has been approved to race after receiving clearance from neurosurgeon Jerry Petty following an evaluation at Petty's Charlotte office. That was the second step of the process, which started with a 123-lap test Monday at Gresham Motorsports Park in...

Newman wins Martinsville NASCAR race MARTINSVILLE, Va. - The semblance of order at Martinsville Speedway was but a facade, and as a result, Ryan Newman became a surprise winner of Sunday's Goody's Fast Relief 500. Until all sorts of madness emerged in the final laps of an overtime Sprint Cup race, Newman figured to finish no better than fourth. "It was just circumstances," Newman said, and he was talking about more than a few circumstances. Newman's Chevy...

Part 2 : continues.... six events. "We've had fast cars this year, but what we need is to start the race fast and make sure that we're comfortable with our setup after the final practice," said Smith. "Finding the right setup during the race is too late sometimes. " 43 ARIC ALMIROLA, Ford Team: Richard Petty Motorsports WHERE HE STANDS: 19th, 45 points out of the top 10. TEXAS RECORD: His best finish in two starts is 21st. LOOKING AHEAD: Although...

MARTINSVILLE , Va. -- Kurt Busch got by Jimmie Johnson with 11 laps remaining at Martinsville Speedway on Sunday and was able to hold off Johnson in the closing laps to win the STP 500 Sprint Cup race. "I didn't know if we'd be able to do it," Busch said. "The No. 48 car (Johnson) is king here -- him or the 24 ( Jeff Gordon ). The old theory is, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. " Johnson had to settle for second. Dale Earnhardt Jr. finished third, Joey...